The Real "Syriana": Interlocking Directorates Shaping a Defense-Petroleum-Policy Complex

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dc.contributor.authorHaija, Rammy M.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairHawdon, James E.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairWimberley, Dale W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPolanah, Paulo S.en
dc.contributor.committeememberFuller, Theodore D.en
dc.contributor.departmentSociologyen
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-06T15:45:09Zen
dc.date.adate2009-04-24en
dc.date.available2017-04-06T15:45:09Zen
dc.date.issued2009-03-31en
dc.date.rdate2016-09-30en
dc.date.sdate2009-04-07en
dc.description.abstractCorporate interlocks between U.S. firms are a long-studied issue, and the apparent influence of these interlocks can be examined by applying theories of capitalism vs. the state arguments in examining the actual policy power that these interlocks potentially wield. This study investigates the link between corporate executives of the United States petroleum and military-defense industries, and examines the implications of the interlocking directorates that exist between these two industries, along with the strength of ties to government through former lawmakers and bureaucrats seated on these boards. The purpose of this research is to uncover evidence as to whether these interlocks and social network-ties are being utilized to further mutual interests of both these industries, along with the state, notably U.S.-led or U.S.-financed military or covert actions in petroleum-rich regions across the globe. The analysis reveals that interlocking directorates between the petroleum and defense industries show a high frequency of interlocks relative to other industries, along with a strong connection to government. This study points to the potential that oil-rich regions may have undergone U.S. military and covert interventions in an effort to not only gain access to petroleum, but to further the economic interests of the petroleum and defense industries. These findings lead to the conclusion that a real "Syriana," as in the plot of the 2005 film, may have been executed on two primary occasions during the George W. Bush administration.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-04072009-003640en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04072009-003640/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/77349en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectmilitary-industrial complexen
dc.subjectinterlocking directoratesen
dc.subjectdefense contractoren
dc.subjectoilen
dc.titleThe Real "Syriana": Interlocking Directorates Shaping a Defense-Petroleum-Policy Complexen
dc.typeDissertationen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineSociologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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